Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen perlatus Huds., Fl. angl.: 448 (1762).

≡Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach., Methodus: 216 (1803).

=Parmotrema chinense (Osbeck) Hale & Ahti, Taxon 35: 133 (1986).

≡Lichen chinensis Osbeck, Dagb. Ostind. Resa: 221 (1757).

Description : Flora (1985: 360).

Chemistry : Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow, C−, Pd+ orange-red; containing atranorin, chloroatranorin, stictic acid (major), constictic acid (major), cryptostictic acid (tr.), menegazziaic acid (tr.) and norstictic acid (tr.).

N: Northland to Wellington. S: Nelson to Southland. St: A: C: Very widely distributed – the most common species of the genus in New Zealand. Primarily corticolous, it also colonises rocks, especially in coastal habitats. Widespread in tropical and temperate regions of the world (Nash & Elix 2002g; Wolseley et al. 2002; McCarthy 2003c; Nimis & Martellos 2003).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Martin & Child (1972: 115, pl. 27 – as Parmelia perlata); Goward et al. (1994b: 96, fig. 4B); Wirth (1995a: 64, fig. 17c; 457, fig. 46d); McCune & Gieser (1997: 196); Louwhoff & Elix (1999: 33, fig. 4); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 106); Dobson (2000: 270 - as Parmelia perlata; 2005: 310); Brodo et al. (2001: 493, pl. 574); Kantvilas et al. (2002: 135); McCarthy & Malcolm (2004: 55); Sérusiaux et al. (2004: 121) [except where otherwise stated, all as Parmotrema chinense].

[For notes on typification see Hale (1961b), and Hawksworth (2004). The name Lichen chinensis Osbeck is considered to be not validly published, and in any case its original material was located and proved to be Parmotrema tinctorum. The name Lichen perlatus Huds. is also shown to be a legitimate name (Hawksworth 2004).]

Parmotrema perlatum is characterised by: the corticolous/lignicolous/saxicolous habit; the loosely to moderately adnate thallus; submarginal soralia causing lobe margins to become revolute and suberect; and the stictic acid complex in the medulla. Some specimens may resemble Parmotrema reticulatum and in a number of habitats these two taxa are sympatric; however, P. reticulatum has salazinic acid (K+ yellow→red), giving a characteristic blood-red reaction.